Last updated: September 2024
A biodiversity park was built on an abandoned plot of land that felt unsafe to local residents. In the future, the plot may eventually be used for the construction of something more permanent. In the meantime, this project seeks to increase safety and access to greenspace while benefiting biodiversity, specifically flowers and insects. Recycled materials were used to create the structure of the park, places to sit and insect hotels, while trees and a flowering meadow were planted. A mix of annual and perennial flowers was used to promote biodiversity over time. The locals are reported to be happy with the project. Familjebostäder i Göteborg AB, a publicly owned real estate company, conducted the project. [Ref. 1-5]
A gabion wall allowing insects to make it their home.
https://vartgoteborg.se/p/riven-pizzeria-blev-park-for-biologisk-mangfald/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Rewilding
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Insecurity in public spaces
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces
Project objectives
- Make the location of an abandoned building feel safer and more appealing for locals while increasing access to green space [Ref. 1]
- Promote biodiversity by creating a meadow habitat for wild bees and other insects. [Ref. 1]
- Use recycled materials to reduce climate impact from construction [Ref. 3-5]
- Improve local's connection to nature [Ref. 4]
Implementation activities
1. An abandoned building was demolished and some of its materials used for construction of the park [Ref. 1-2].
2. Several insect habitats were created: sand beds for wild bees, dead wood and hollow "gabion walls" made from recycled materials [Ref. 2-4].
3. Plant beds were constructed and planted with various meadow seed mixes. Seven pine trees were also planted [Ref. 4-5].
4. Recycled benches and chairs were put in the park, as well as some child friendly pine cone sculptures for aestethic purposes and to invite to play [Ref. 2-3, 5].
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- The project didn't involve any form of stakeholder participatory activities
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project initiator and land owner is Familjebostäder, a real estate company owned by the City of Gothenburg. Anlab, a construction company, was employed to carry out the project.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(City of Gothenburg biodiversity goals, e.g. "The City of Gothenburg will increase biodiversity in the urban environment" [Ref. 1, 7])
Type of enablers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of goods
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
- Achieved increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
- Restoration of derelict areas
- Achieved restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Expected increased perception of safety
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Klumbies, H (2024). Riven pizzeria blev park för biologisk mångfald. City of Gothenburg, Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Anlab (n.d.). Återbruk och biologisk mångfald i Kottedala. Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Familjebostäder (2024). Kottedala blir hem för tusentals nya hyresgäster. Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Hansson, E. (2024). Park för insekter istället för ödslig pizzeria. Rikare trädgård, Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Adolfsson, C. (2024). Nytt liv på tom tomt i Kottedala. Familjebostäder, Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Prichard, E., & Lättman, K. (2022). Gothenburg: Selection of neighbourhoods. Walk Urban, [Source link];
7.
City of Gothenburg (n.d.). Målet för naturen - Göteborg har en hög biologisk mångfald. Accessed on August 27, 2024, [Source link];
The pine cone sculptures of the park
https://vartgoteborg.se/p/riven-pizzeria-blev-park-for-biologisk-mangfald/
The biodiversity park in Kortedala
https://vartgoteborg.se/p/riven-pizzeria-blev-park-for-biologisk-mangfald/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.